"The Author, it must be remembered, writes from his own standpoint!"My personal "Interpretive" Lens!

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"One thing has always been true: That book ... or ... that person who can give me an idea or a new slant on an old idea is my friend." - Louis L'Amour

"Ideally, your self-defense will never get physical. Avoiding the situation and running or talking you way out - either of these is a higher order of strategy than winning a physical battle." - Wise Words of Rory Miller, Facing Violence: Chapter 7: after, subparagraph 7.1:medical

"Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider..." - Francis Bacon

Warning, Caveat and Note:The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books.

Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.

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What is the difference between fighting and combat?

In a thread about "karate" it was mentioned that karate is not combat but fighting and not necessarily one that was taught as the pre-cursor to what is practiced today, i.e. sport oriented, etc.

In that thread two quotes were made that prompted me to consider the question. Quotes are:

Combat (intent to kill someone from another tribe as he tries to do the same to you) is very different from fighting (usually two people in the same tribe in contest over something). - Marc MacYoung on Animal-List; Subject: AL:KARATE: Contemporary vs. Traditionalist by Tristan Sutrisno Sensei.A DI expressed the attitude about boot camp trainees undergoing grappling training as, "We don't expect them to fight at this range, but we want to instill the willingness to fight at any range." - Marc MacYoung on Animal-List; Subject: AL:KARATE: Contemporary vs. Traditionalist by Tristan Sutrisno Sensei.

We get things so mixed up and it is simply because we see or read or hear something that triggers this innate feeling of "cool stuff" and then without further ado we use it and only find out that it is crap when someone who took the time to research and find out the "rest of the story" and are told we are wrong, incorrect, inaccurate, and just plain stupid.

Marc MacYoung in his quotes above really provides a good view of combat vs. fighting. If you are on the animal list you can read the entire post which is enlightening. He has such a good way of conveying things, crude sometimes and funny and factual with a smidgeon of experience thrown in.

Combat does not occur on the streets against violent attacks. We are not Samurai, we are not Warriors. We are civilians who wish to learn how to compete in sport based competitions. Those who practice to fight still are not learning combat but actually a ritualized way to fight in the monkey dance. Seldom does anyone actually practice and train for predatory violent encounters.

Even if a predator is trying to kill you it is not combat. Your fighting for your life yes, but not combat. Combat is where one tribe, say country, tries to force something on another tribe, another country, or tries to take by force something away from another tribe/country. Sometimes wars and combat are a result of belief systems such as religion. It is not fighting, it is combat where folks on both sides try their very best to kill each other.

For what fighting is in its entirety you need to go to nonsense self defense and both Marc MacYoung and Rory Miller's books on violence where they will be more than willing to explain all the various forms of violence and "fighting."

Lets get real, all those sound bites are "selling points" to get the uninitiated to buy into their all encompassing three day course of how to be the deadliest person on the planet. There is no such animal ... ops, sorry Mr. MacYoung, forgot you are the Animal! ;-)

This post is mine and does not reflect in any way any meaning that would be Marc's, he may or may not agree with what I have posted. The quotes are his and are outside the thread so may be incomplete in meaning as it should be read with the rest of the post for proper context.

This Internet Site is for informational purposes only, strictly an academic endeavor, so do not try to practice or utilize any of the information contained herein with out close mentoring by a complete and fully qualified Sensei.

Your participation is voluntary when you practice FA/MA so the onus is on you to provide for your own safety. You MUST have a qualified Sensei and you MUST have a physician's health assessment along with his/her approval to enter into and participate in any and all fighting/martial art.

Understand that to participate continually and diligently you will be voluntarily submitting your mind and body to potentially dangerous activity that is strenuous with both mental and physical challenges. Your practice, both in the Dojo and on your own, opens you to possible injuries that can result in permanent disability, deformity, or even death.

It is your responsibility to remain focused, aware, and take appropriate actions to provide for your own safety, health, and well-being. If any part of your practice is questionable you are the only one responsible to bring it to Sensei's attention and to either participate of not. You MUST work within your personal limitations.

Disclaimer!

Every effort is being made to make this blog site as accurate as possible. However, there may be mistakes, both typographical and in content. Therefore, this blog should be used only as a general guide and not the ultimate source of practicing and training in the fighting arts. Furthermore, this blog site contains information on the fighting arts that is current only up to the publishing date and time.

The purpose of this blog site is to educate and entertain. The author shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused , directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this blog site.

When it comes to martial arts, fighting arts or self-defense, etc. nothing here no matter how well presented, can substitute for qualified professional, hands on instruction provided that instructor is properly educated and trained. This blog site and all its materials are for academic study ONLY.

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